MBARI’s R/V Western Flyer has headed to sea for an 8-day expedition with the Midwater lab, led by Bruce Robison.

One of the goals of this expedition is to deploy the mini ROV to conduct shallow water transects and to practice operating this vehicle from the deck of the Western Flyer for the first time.

Its small size allows MBARI to ship it to far off locations for use on other ships of opportunity. Also, the vehicle is electrically powered, so it is much quieter.

The science and engineering teams will work together with the crew and ROV pilots to devise the best procedures for use of the mini ROV on the Western Flyer in anticipation of the 2015 Gulf of California expedition during which the Midwater lab plans to use it extensively.